Towleroad Guide to the Tube #504

WATCH YOUR BACK, CASPER: The ghost of Michael Jackson?

NOT A GHOST OF A CHANCE: CNN ghostbusts.

STRAIGHTFORWARD: Via Leave It To Seaver: "Why Marriage Matters."

MUNCHIES: Michael Phelps for Subway.

Michael Phelps' Pornstache Gives Him the Edge

It must be good luck.

News: Susan Boyle, Iraq, Michael Phelps, Carrie Prejean, Sun

Sun dimmest it's been for 100 years...

Confirmed: Miss California Carrie Prejean dating Michael Phelps.

Boyle banishes bushy brows.

More on the executions of gay Iraqis: "According to [Congressman Jared] Polis, the 'egregious human rights violations' are 'being carried out by Iraqi government officials from the Ministry of the Interior.' ...'While I do not know if these executions are being sanctioned at the highest levels of the Iraqi government, it is nonetheless disturbing that government officials and state-funded security forces are involved in the torturing and execution of LGBT Iraqis,' Polis wrote to Patricia Butenis, the chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq."

Just Jared interviews Rosie O'Donnell. On her 2004 marriage to Kelli: "I wanted to be included in the list of people that raised their hands. I didn’t want it to be something that I had an opportunity to participate in but was afraid to, so we went and did that. We don’t actually celebrate that as our anniversary, and that marriage was annulled, because the first few were, but people did write us to say 'Happy Anniversary!' which is how we remember, but our anniversary is in December…for sort of when we knew that we would be together…forever."

Project Runway date announced...

Male rocker Marilyn opens up about relationship with Gavin Rossdale.

Dallas company pulls homophobic prom ad.

Victory Fund announces 12 new endorsements, largely in municipal races across the country.

Former Miss Delaware sides with Carrie Prejean.

Arizona student can wear rainbow wristband, after demands from ACLU: "Eighth grader Chris Quintanilla wore a rainbow wristband with the words "Rainbows are gay" to Parkridge Elementary School in March. Natali Quintanilla, the boy's mother, said the principal called her and told her he would not allow Chris to wear the wristband.Quintanilla contacted the ACLU following the incident; the union wrote a letter to the district demanding it rescind its ban on the wristband, saying the ban was a First Amendment violation."

Alabama lawmaker Jay Love drafts resolution in support of Miss California: "Love said there are those 'tell­ing people what they can believe and what they can say,' which he said is wrong. He said she is being punished for saying marriage is between a man and a woman. 'I don't believe that's right,' Love said."

Delhi teach fired for being gay, teaching students about homophobia.

ABC News: Silence deafening in culture wars. "While social conservatives remain a major part of the GOP, they are losing influence inside and outside the party, said Rich Galen, a Republican strategist."

Worst Catholic logo ever?

Jesus Luz: new post-Madonna photos.

Gay couple attacked by curry vendor at Sydney Royal Easter Show: "Richard said that when the couple went to try one of the sauces offered for public taste testing, they were told by a female worker at the stall: 'No, it’s only for mums and dads. It’s only for people who have families.' When the couple asked why they were being discriminated against, the worker replied: 'I can discriminate against who I want – it’s my product. Now get lost.' The couple were subsequently offered the product by another employee at the stall, but after trying it, the employee who had ordered them to leave threw a pot of curry at them, narrowly missing Richard. She then went to throw a glass jar at the couple before they retreated."

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #463

IRAQ: NYC demonstration held to protest executions of gays in Iraq inspires threats of arrest from NYPD. Additional photos here.

OUCH: San Francisco Giants reliever Joe Martinez gets nailed by Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron's line drive in SF last night.

ASIAN NAMES: Texas Republican Rep. Betty Brown suggests that Asians might want to change their names so they're easier for Americans to pronounce.

DEBBIE PHELPS: Michael Phelps' mom defends her son against his recent "scandals". Good for mom.

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News: Hate Crimes, Lady GaGa, Pope Condoms, India, James Franco

Bipartisan federal hate crimes bill reintroduced in House by Reps. John Conyers (D-MI) and Mark Kirk (R-IL): "Beyond providing tougher penalties for crimes explicitly targeting LGBT people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act also gives local law enforcement officers more resources for investigations and prosecutions of bias-motivated crimes as well as training on the issue."

World Without Us about Earth after demise of man to be made into film. But who will star?

Lady Gaga: bisexual performance artist (NSFW).

Helen Davis, Denver mom who became gay rights champion, dies of brain tumor.

Top 5 gay bars in Iowa in which to celebrate marriage equality (And perhaps meet your future groom?).

The ring: Marc Jacobs' proof of engagement.

Gay rights advocates seek spousal benefits in Maryland: "Last year, state legislators passed bills that allow same-sex partners who meet certain criteria to make medical and burial decisions for each other. They also made domestic partners eligible for tax benefits that married people currently get when transferring property. This year, activists want domestic partners who own a home together to be exempt from the hefty state taxes assessed on property when one partner dies."

Sex and the City sequel gets release date.

Levi Johnston tells Tyra Banks he practiced safe sex "most of the time."

Parents blame school bullying for teen's suicide: "The lawsuit -- filed March 27, alleges that the quiet but likable boy, who was involved in theater and music, was called 'gay,' 'fag,' 'queer' and 'homo' and often in front of his teachers. Most of the harassment took place in math class and the teacher -- an athletic coach -- was accused of failing to protect the boy."

John Cameron Mitchell to direct Aaron Eckhart, Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole: "The story, which David Lindsay-Abaire adapted from his own stage play, traces the life of a happily married couple that is disrupted by an unexpected tragedy and the emotional journey they must undertake to regain happiness. Eckhart will play Kidman's husband, who is trying to hold on to the memory of his dead son while dealing with his emotionally removed wife." 

More James Franco Howl shots.

Pope condoms selling like hotcakes in France.

Michael Phelps training with Navy Seals.

Visually-impaired Indian CEO Karan Goel produces film about plight of gays in India: "When I was 15, I found out I was suffering from Retinitis Pigmentosa (an eye disease). When people found out, they started distancing themselves from me and began boycotting me. I went ahead to finish my studies through correspondence but later left that too. I feel such discrimination also happens with homosexuals in India. Later, I went abroad to do my graduation from San Francisco State University and there I realised how liberal people were about homosexuality, unlike here. When I came back to India, my father suggested that I do something for society. He said, ‘Let’s make a movie!’ And homosexuality was a subject that came immediately to my mind."

News: Michael Phelps, Marijuana, Sean Penn, Lindsay Lohan, Jai Ho

Florida Rep. Bob Allen, who was convicted of soliciting sex from a police officer in 2007, has given up trying to appeal his case: "While he's maintained his innocence and is confident of his innocence, there comes a point where you just have to move on with your life, and I think that's where he's at."

Family, friends and activists hold vigil on anniversary of murder of transgender Fort Lauderdale teen Simmie Williams. Mother: "I was hoping that I would have heard something by now, but not yet. I won't have peace until his killer is caught."

Lindsay Lohan offers a jittery update on her life, plus a gaunt photo shoot by Hedi Slimane.

New York Governor Paterson bringing back openly gay chief advisor: "And he has announced that he would bring back Charles J. O’Byrne, his former chief aide who resigned amid a tax scandal, to serve as a top political adviser. It is a potentially risky move, given that the governor will be seeking tax increases this spring, but it might help with the disarray that has plagued his inner circle."

Elton John Oscar party raises $4 million.

Penn jabs Madonna over Jesus Luz: "Another kid, already?"

Sean Penn opts out of Milk post-Oscar bash: "Not every celebrity completed his Oscar-party rounds. Saturday night, Best Actor winner Sean Penn - who neglected to thank his long-suffering wife in his acceptance speech - ditched Focus Features' bash for "Milk" at BLT Steak on Sunset Boulevard. 'It was the film producers' party for their own movie and Sean didn't show up,' said our astonished source." 

Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick share a ball.

California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano introduces bill to legalize marijuana in California, would put pot on same footing as alcohol.

UK Evangelical Christian groups (Accepting Evangelicals, Courage, the Network of Baptists Affirming Lesbian and Gay Christians, the Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian & Gay Christians, and the Christian think-tank Ekklesia) call on fellow Evangelicals to rethink attitudes toward gays following condemnation of Westboro Baptist Church outrage: "We would now call upon these groups to reflect on their own attitudes and prayerfully consider what their 'hate the sin, love the sinner' teaching does to the minds and souls of faithful Christians who are gay.

1,000 mourn owner of gay bar in Schenectady, NY.

MUSTO: NYC movie theater responds to gay bashing claims.

Pussycat Dolls get their claws into Slumdog Millionaire best song "Jai Ho".

Kelloggs' knee-jerk reaction to Michael Phelps bong photo cost it.

Michigan court recognizes adoption by Illinois gay couple: "The court ruled 2-1 that the U.S. Constitution requires state courts to recognize Diane Giancaspro and Lisa Congleton as adoptive parents. It reversed a trial judge who said Michigan’s 2004 voter-approved gay marriage ban kept her from enforcing the women’s parental rights."

Meet the gay teen on the upcoming Fame remake.

Gay Pride organizers in Chiang Mai, Thailand, call off second annual parade after taunts from protestors: "According to the Thai Nation newspaper, the protesters launched verbal attacks through a megaphone saying the event tarnished the city's reputation. They also reacted angrily to remarks made by the organisers that the 'Rak Chiang Mai 51' group was acting like thugs. Fearing violence, the organisers Mplus, Chiang Mai's largest HIV/AIDS group, called the march which was to start from Buddha-sathan through Night Bazaar before ending at the Tawan Trendy Mall. The confrontation reportedly lasted an hour before the organisers agreed to dismantle the stage and cancel the activities in the area. The report noted that 150 policemen had been mobilised for the parade."